Three-peat; Champion pacer Im Themightyquinn claimed his third Inter Dominion Grand Final title with a brilliant victory at Menangle.
In sport, elite athletes can find a way to own the moment.
And it doesn’t matter if it’s human, canine or equine.
In the case of the latter, champion pacer Im Themightyquinn delivered on all levels to claim his third Inter Dominion Pacing Grand Final at TABCORP Park, Menangle today (Sunday).
Dogged by constant criticism for failing to win a major Group One event on the east coast, Im Themightyquinn erased those theories once and for all after storming down the outside with his trademark speed blitz to upstage Mah Sish and Excel Stride in the 3009m event.
In doing so, Im Themightyquinn maintains his unbeaten record at the Inter Dominion, winning all heats and Grand Finals he’s contested to date.
Starting equal favourite with dual New Zealand Cup winner Terror To Love, Im Themightyquinn drifted back immediately from his front row draw ending up nearer to last than first.
Chariot King shot to the early lead before Mah Sish and driver Anthony Butt made an early re-take move to regain the lead while Devil Dodger and Caribbean Blaster both held forward positions shortly after the start.
Mah Sish settled in front while Washakie started the early moves three wide, Excel Stride and Terror To Love soon followed.
The lead time was covered in 104.9 seconds.
Butt continued to dictate terms in front with Mah Sish while Terror To Love started to race keenly on his outside.
The first half was covered in splits of 31.2 and 29.7 seconds.
Entering the back straight on the final occasion, Im Themightyquinn was last with driver Gary Hall Jnr. angling three wide to start his run; Mach Alert then went in front of the West Australian star presenting him with a perfect trail.
The big field quickly bunched as the speed quickened considerably.
The third quarter was covered in 28.3 seconds and Mah Sish straightened with the lead as Terror To Love, Excel Stride, Mach Alert and Im Themightyquinn all loomed deeper on the track.
It soon became obvious that Im Themightyquinn was set for victory as he swept clear while Mah Sish and Excel Stride battled strongly while Mach Alert made a wild break and lost all chance.
At the finish, Im Themightyquinn was a decisive victor and scored comfortably by 4m over Mah Sish with a further a long neck back to Excel Stride in third place.
The last quarter was a stunning 26.7 seconds.
Im Themightyquinn returned a mile rate of 1;58.1.
“He’s no powder puff champion after all, what an absolute superstar he is and I’m just so proud of this horse.” Trainer Gary Hall Snr. beamed.
“Approaching the home turn, I knew Quinny would be hard to hold out and it was just magic finish like he did. He was spot-on for this race and it was another champion drive from Jnr.” Hall Snr. added.
Im Themightyquinn is the winner of 47 races from 96 lifetime starts with his prizemoney now in excess of $4 million and quickly closing in on the all-time record which is held by immortal pacer and four time Inter Dominion champion Blacks A Fake.
For two of his owners, Mark Congerton and Henry McManus, the victory provided the well-entrenched Perth racing figures with their fourth Inter Dominion triumph within the last decade.
Congerton and McManus shared in the ownership of 2003 Grand Final champion Baltic Eagle while Im Themightyquinn has now completed the three-peat.
Im Themightyquinn now heads to Auckland for the Cup next Friday night at Alexandra Park.
